GOD'S NOTE FOR PARENTS

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Follow The Christian Walk on Twitter @ThChristianWalk

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Ephesians 6:4 NLT

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

“Honor your father and your mother.” Exodus 20:12a

In yesterday’s message, we read where the Apostle Paul reminded children of this commandment from God, the first that carried a promise:

“...so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” v.12b

God demanded that children, regardless of age, should respect their parents.

As we turn to verse 4 of Ephesians, chapter 6, we see that this respect within a parent/child relationship is expected to go both ways. Look again at these words:

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

You may remember during my message on the responsibilities of a husband from the fifth chapter of this letter that the men in marital relationships during the first century were not exactly model mates. They lorded over their households and expected to be the center of attention while not feeling obligated to return the devotion they demanded from their wife and children. It was because of this poor attitude toward family that the call to love their wives as Christ loved the church had to have had a seismic impact on the husbands of that period because it called for a radical change in behavior.

Today’s verse only adds to the call for a shift in function within the family for the men, this time aimed at fatherhood and the rearing of children.

Fathers were to watch the way they treated their children. Abusive behavior, whether by word or action, was completely unacceptable. It was true in biblical times and it remains true today.

All children are God’s children. He is the One responsible for creation and He entrusts every child born to the man and woman He gave the privilege to procreate.

No parent should ever lose sight of this because it is critical to understanding the importance of bring up children from childhood to adulthood. If you see your child as belonging to God first and loaned out to you to take care of, the dynamics of parenting are drastically altered. Within that perspective, every child should be treated with the upmost dignity, love, and patience.

Ultimately, any parent, father or mother, should be in constant consultation with the Lord as they raise their child. For the Lord always offers perfect guidance and direction, and will especially do so when it involves His children. Verse 4 calls for bringing up children “with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord” and in order to carry this out, one must have the Lord involved in the parenting process.

Care for and discipline your children in the way the Lord calls you to and you will never parent wrong.

It’s a simple rule to follow and as we see in the scriptures, it’s God’s note for parents.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to Gods4all@aol.com